OSMP and the Arts

OSMP and the Arts connects people to the land through creative art programs and hikes. Join OSMP naturalists and local artists to discover nature in unique ways. A variety of medias have been explored through this program, from music and dance to the written word, sketching, watercolor, collage, and photography. We welcome all ages and artistic skill levels.

White Rocks Artistic Expression

When: Thursday September 21, 9am – 12pm

Location: White Rocks/Ertl (Directions will be giving with reservation)

Description: Enjoy an easy 2-mile hike exploring the unique and beautiful OSMP White Rocks property through the lenses of history, geology, and ecology. Then select an area of repose in which to artistically express your experience. Bring personal art supplies or use on-hand collage materials. Water and food, sun and mosquito protection, long pants, and closed shoes are advised.

Sign up for White Rocks Artistic Expression in Count Me In.

Dancing with the Land

When: Saturday 10/14, 9am - 12pm

Location: Flagstaff (Meeting location at the Nature center)

Description: The dance of nature is all around us! Wild nature has shapes, rhythms, patterns, and amazing choreography. Join naturalist and dancer, Deb Matlock during this easy hike, and we will explore these natural rhythms and move and groove with the land around us. This program is open to anyone interested in exploring dancing and movement with nature as their partner. No dance experience is necessary! This program is geared towards adults and mature children who love to dance. Ages 10 and up. To Learn more about the artist please visit: Wild Rhythms.

Sign up for Dancing with the Land in Count Me In.

Bird’s Eye View is an art and science project exploring barn swallows and other local bird species. Based upon art and notes created observing various species of birds, 11 high school students created bird costumes and puppets to embody avian movements. Students also explored the written word integrating information about a bird of their choosing and their feeling of connection with it.

These scripts were used to perform public Art Hikes within Boulder’s Open Space Mountain Parks, and we have the recording! These videos filmed in OSMP lands integrate movement, science, words, and music from the imaginations of our city’s youth within various Open Space and Mountain Parks trails. Come virtually meet the program directors and student artists and see each trail from a bird’s eye view. Here's to a future that’s looking up.

"Thank you for arranging the wonderful morning of Improvisational Singing! Five stars for everything. On scale of 1-10, this was a 12. Celeste’s enthusiasm, rapport, knowledge, clarity, and receptivity are all excellent."

“I liked the size of the group…large enough to be varied, but small enough for the group to be cohesive….good mix of ages.”

What did you like about the program? “Being outside, sitting, being present with surroundings…”

“It was wonderful to take in the beauty of OSMP with the specific intent of expressing through art a couple hours later! I liked that the art form was brand new to me and required no special skill, and the process was short enough that we were able to leave with several finished pieces.”

“This idea of blending art with learning and appreciating OSMP lands is a marvelous idea! It seems to be getting new people out appreciating the lands-there was one woman in the class who had never hiked before…and I think now she might be a little hooked.”

“The pace was very comfortable and pleasant. Lots of time for contemplation and reflection.”

“The artist en couraged us to see ourselves in nature and stimulated us to take time to see the beauty around us and feel the emotion.”

“(This program) helped me see with new eyes…”

“OSMP provides many artistic opportunities. Even a brief hike reveals a variety of natural colors, textures, scenes and juxtapositions that can be translated into art forms.”

“(I gained) new appreciation for the many colors and textures in nature as I began to see rocks, grass, cones, etc from the perspective of the artistic techniques one could use to represent them.”